The proceedings from the European Conference
- Tapping the Human Resource in Science and Technology
Introduction
Jacqueline
Allan Chairperson of WITS STI
(Science, Technology and Innovation)
Collaboration is the
main engine of sustainable competitiveness for
European industry. Increasingly, low skill jobs are moving from
Europe to lower wage economies in the Far East. In order to maintain
our competitiveness, the challenge for Europe is to maximise the
innovative capacity of industry, by ensuring the effectiveness
of an highly-trained workforce. Over the past decade, increasing
numbers of women are becoming qualified and entering the workforce
in non-traditional roles. Progressive companies are capitalising
on this increased diversity in the workforce but they remain in
the minority.
Women in
Technology and Science (WITS) actively promotes
women in science, technology and engineering in Ireland through
initiatives at industrial, school, higher education, national
policy and European levels. As a wholly voluntary organisation,
WITS draws its members from all technical and scientific areas
- research personnel, industrial scientists, technicians, journalists,
engineers, administrators, policy analysts, teachers and lecturers,
computer experts and consultants.
Many progressive companies from both the private
and public sectors are corporate members of
WITS and their female employees form an important
part of the membership. The organisation places great emphasis
on helping its members to network through a confidential directory
of members, through social events and information seminars.
Various activities of
WITS are aimed at helping to achieve gender
balance in the workforce of the future. These initiatives include
encouraging girls to consider science and technology as real career
options through regional Role Model Days. Senior cycle schoolgirls
are given the opportunity to meet with and talk to women from
a wide range of science, technology and engineering careers.
We have also compiled a Talent Bank of senior female
scientists and technologists willing to serve on State and other
boards, which has been circulated to Government departments and
other nominating bodies. The second edition of this Talent Bank
is currently in preparation.
WITS was also the Irish compiler of data for a
European Handbook of Women Experts in Science, Engineering and
Technology, a project co-ordinated by
WITEC.
WITS
has recently joined forces with three major companies
in the food industry - Golden Vale plc, Greencore Group plc and
Kerry Group plc - and with the Faculty of Food Science and Technology
in University College, Cork, to promote career development for
women scientists and technologists in Ireland’s largest indigenous
industry. The aim of this EMPLOYMENT-NOW funded project
is to increase the participation of women in management in the
food industry.
It was in light of its track record in promoting
equality in science and technology and the experience which the
organisation has gained since its inception in 1990 that
WITS determined to stage a conference to
address human resource issues in science, engineering and technology
based industry. Through the plenary sessions and focused workshops,
industry and policy makers were given the opportunity to exchange
best practice for economic and social development through optimal
participation of women scientists and technologists in the workforce.
In these proceedings are presented the papers of
speakers at the conference, the workshop reports and the recommendations
stemming from the conference.
WITS will be acting upon these recommendations.
I exhort you to remember that "Equal opportunities is not a women’s
issue - it is a boardroom issue" and to act on them too!
Conference Proceedings can be obtained from the WITS office.